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The first GCIRC ornament -
Vero Beach Train Station |
2009 - The Garden Club of IRC
18th Annual Christmas Ornament
Honoring the Vero Beach Women's Club
Vero Florida in the early 1900’s offered few
amenities to the pioneer families who settled the area. To the men it was
learning to live with "petty annoyances" - the women, however, agreed there was
room for improvement.
On February 16, 1915, 27 women met to organize a club to work for the betterment
of the town and to establish a library. Originally named the Woman's Unity Club,
the organization was renamed the Vero Woman's Club and later the Vero Beach
Woman's Club.
The women had the land for a library building donated, raised the Money to build
the structure and opened the library on May 12, 1916.
The Vero Public Library was operated from the building at 16th Avenue and 21st
Street for the next 43 years. In February 1962, 16,456 volumes were moved to a
new library at 1028 20th Place built by
the Indian River County Library Association.
The Woman's Club has been instrumental in sponsoring many civic improvement
projects over the years and continues
to be an organization of women dedicated to the betterment of the community.
In March 1995, the Vero Beach Woman's Club was added to the National Register of
Historic Places. The Club's building can boast of being the oldest public
building under continuous ownership in Vero Beach.
The ornament was designed by Arun Wijetilleke. A more detailed history is
included with the ornament which was written by Natalie Jackson. Both Arun and
Natalie are members of
Garden Club of Indian River County.
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